Chapter 190: Sneaking into the Prime Minister's Residence

Along the way, Jiang Xiaomu stayed right by Jiang Xiaoyu's side, simply treating her wound. After returning to the mansion, Jiang Xiaomu immediately summoned a doctor to treat Xiao Yu.

After a thorough examination, the doctor said, "Lord Jiang, the young lady only suffered some superficial injuries; it's nothing serious, she just needs to rest a few days to recover."

He thanked the doctor, personally served Xiao Yu her medicine, and watched as her breathing gradually steadied and her complexion regained a hint of color. Only then did Jiang Xiaomu's anxious heart finally settle.

Watching his sister's peaceful sleeping face, Jiang Xiaomu felt a mixture of emotions.

His current strength is insufficient; he must quickly increase his power to better protect those he cares about.

At that moment, the messenger nightingale flew in through the window; Jiang Xiaomu pulled out a slip of paper from the bamboo tube on its leg, unfolded it, and saw delicate small characters written:

The black powder is a deadly poison called 'Bone-Corroding Powder'; it is colorless and odorless, early symptoms resemble a common cold, but the toxin gradually seeps into the marrow, eventually causing full-body paralysis and death. Moreover, this poison is only prepared by the 'Shadow' organization of Japan.

Shadow! It seems the ninja who poisoned the Empress and kidnapped Xiao Yu belongs to that Japanese organization. Thinking of Wang Shouren's overly concealed demeanor, Jiang Xiaomu's suspicions gradually took shape.

Wang Shouren has colluded with the Japanese organization, plotting rebellion and even usurpation of the throne! It appears the kidnapping of Xiao Yu was also his scheme… Thinking this, Jiang Xiaomu clenched his fists, his eyes turning icy. 'Wang Shouren, you have gall!' He took a deep breath, calmed himself. Now is not the time to startle the snake; he must first obtain solid evidence to net Wang Shouren in one sweep.

He balled up the note, walked to the window, and gazed upon Jingcheng shrouded in night, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

The system's voice suddenly sounded.

【Ding! Special task detected: Wang Shouren and the Shadow organization will meet at Wang Shouren's study in the Prime Minister's Residence tomorrow at midnight; please, host, go collect evidence of Wang Shouren's rebellion】

Jiang Xiaomu felt a surge of joy—this was truly a case of sleepiness meeting a pillow! He had been worrying about how to find clues of Wang Shouren's poisoning, never expecting the system to issue this task.

The next day, Jiang Xiaomu appeared calm on the surface, but secretly began mobilizing forces, arranging for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to set up an ambush around the Prime Minister's Residence, waiting only for midnight to capture Wang Shouren and those Japanese assassins in one net.

Night fell, and Jingcheng lay shrouded in tranquility.

Jiang Xiaomu changed into a night outfit and silently infiltrated the Prime Minister's Residence.

The night watch of the Prime Minister's Residence had been bribed, allowing Jiang Xiaomu to enter the mansion smoothly and sneak to the outside of Wang Shouren's study.

Inside the study, no lamps were lit; it was pitch black.

Jiang Xiaomu crouched and slipped into the study, and by the dim moonlight he carefully examined the furnishings—apart from shelves full of books and some writing implements, he saw nothing suspicious. At that moment, his peripheral vision caught a familiar classic on the bookshelf—《Five Poisons Secret Manual》.

Jiang Xiaomu lightly touched the book, intending to pull it out to see if it matched his cherished rare edition, when a soft click sounded, the bookcase shifted, and a secret passage appeared before him.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart leapt in astonishment—he had stumbled upon such a secret by chance, and it was highly likely that Wang Shouren's meeting with the Japanese ninjas was arranged in this very passage!

Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his mind:

【Warning! Detected that the host will face a lethal crisis!】

【Prime Minister Wang Shouren and the Shadow ninjas are conferring in the secret room, discovering the host hidden there】

【The ninjas' power is unfathomable; host mortality probability: 90%】

A 90% mortality rate! Even though Jiang Xiaomu had weathered great storms, his heart raced involuntarily. He held his breath, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead. This passage was pitch black, like the gaping maw of a man-eating monster, exuding danger. Should he go in, or stay out?

The system timely poured a bucket of cold water: 【Host, given the extreme danger, it is advised to withdraw immediately.】

"Withdraw?" Jiang Xiaomu sneered, "After all this trouble to finally locate Wang Shouren's lair, to just slink away like that would be utterly embarrassing."

Even a 10% chance is hope! Jiang Xiaomu gritted his teeth, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes—'Fortune favors the bold; if you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you get its cub?'

He took a deep breath, drew a dagger from his boot, gripped it, and cautiously stepped into the passage. The air inside was stale and moldy; relying on the faint light, he proceeded warily.

At the end of the passage appeared an iron door, closed, but a yellowish candle glow seeped through the crack. Jiang Xiaomu held his breath, pressed his ear against the cold iron, and listened carefully to the faint voices.

"Your poison truly lives up to its name; even the imperial physician could detect nothing amiss." This was Wang Shouren's voice.

Another voice, sharp and effeminate with a heavy foreign accent, said: "Rest assured, my lord, this Bone-Corroding Powder is our Shadow organization's exclusive secret remedy—colorless and odorless; victims will only think they've caught a chill, never suspecting another's hand."

"…After success, I hope Prime Minister will honor his promise…"

"Of course," Wang Shouren's voice tinged with pride, "once I ascend the throne…"

Indeed, Wang Shouren had colluded with Shadow to administer the poison—this old scoundrel actually dared to rebel! His guess was correct. For tonight's operation, he had fashioned a simple listening device from a magnet, capable of clearly transmitting the conversation inside the secret room.

He silently stepped back a few paces, took out a magnet from his pocket, and lightly attached it to the iron door. With a soft 'click,' the magnet firmly clung to the door.

Jiang Xiaomu nervously listened to the sound transmitted by the magnet.

Wang Shouren and that ninja were still plotting their rebellion, discussing how to control the capital's garrison, how to bribe court officials, how to spread rumors to incite the populace… myriad conspiracies that made one's blood run cold.

He pulled out a stick of charcoal and a piece of silk, and, relying on his extraordinary memory, swiftly jotted down the key phrases he heard.

The conversation in the secret room continued, and Jiang Xiaomu's fingers never stopped recording, fearful of missing a single word.

Suddenly, the conversation inside ceased abruptly. The iron door creaked open.